BAGHDAD–Business training offered in Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), supported by the U.S. Government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is helping shape a new generation of Iraqi entrepreneurs.

In his joint press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on December 12, 2011, President Barack Obama noted that “In the coming years, it’s estimated that Iraq’s economy will grow even faster than China’s or India’s.”

Just in time for the holiday season, a time when charitable giving increases, NFL players have joined FWD, a national public awareness campaign designed to inform Americans of the extreme famine, war and drought in the Horn of Africa. Developed by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ad Council, the FWD campaign encourages Americans to forward the facts about the crisis and to donate to the relief efforts.

Dr. Rajiv Shah, Administrator, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will begin a two-day trip to New Delhi on December 20 to meet with senior government officials, Indian thought leaders and innovators, entrepreneurs and business leaders, and members of non-governmental organizations. This visit is an opportunity for him to discuss the future of India-U.S development collaboration.

The U.S. Agency for International Development has joined the Western Union Company and its Foundation in adding Libya and Tunisia to the second African Diaspora Marketplace, also called the ADM. The Marketplace encourages sustainable economic growth and employment by supporting U.S.-based diaspora entrepreneurs.

USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah will join Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and representatives of the U.S. Government will host the International Engagement Conference for South Sudan on December 14-15 in Washington, D.C.

Just in time for the Holiday season, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Ad Council, and MTV Act have partnered to launch a celebrity auction to raise awareness and money for the crisis in Horn of Africa.

A conference sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Middle East Desalination Research Centre (MEDRC) launched December 5 in Muscat, Oman, with opening remarks from U.S. Ambassador to Oman Richard J. Schmierer and Dr. Mohamed S. Al Busaidi, Deputy Director General, Oman Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Maureen A. Shauket was sworn in today as the new Mission Director for Kosovo for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The oath was administered by USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd, today announced a new three-year partnership with the GSMA mWomen Programme to increase mobile phone ownership among women in the developing world. The partnership is between the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), the GSMA and Visa Inc.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Officials from the Government of Haiti, the U.S. Government, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Korean apparel manufacturer Sae-A Co. Ltd. and others celebrated the official laying of the cornerstone for the Caracol Industrial Park in Caracol Haiti. Operations at the park are expected to begin in March 2012.

Dr. Rajiv Shah, Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and Rt. Hon Tony Blair, founder of the Africa Governance Initiative (AGI), issued the following statement on the upcoming high level development forum in Busan, Korea.

On November 29th, the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness will convene in Busan, South Korea. There will be more than 2500 participants from all aspects of the development assistance world; from government ministers in donor and developing countries to civil society and private sector representatives.

The United States will host the International Engagement Conference for South Sudan December 14-15 in Washington, D.C., to honor the new nation and commence a development and investment dialogue with the Government of South Sudan. The conference will outline the Government of South Sudan's strategic development priorities and highlight opportunities for engagement with public and private sector partners

Today, USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah will travel to Busan, South Korea to attend the 4th High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness (HLF4). On December 1st, Administrator Shah will head to Seoul on his way to Taipei, Taiwan.